Chapter 76 Finally Broken Free
Abigail’s sharp retort left Anthony speechless, though his anger still burned, his breaths heavy and uneven.
She simply looked at him indifferently. Today’s Anthony reminded her of the man she had seen for the first time so long ago. Standing under the lights, every strand of hair seemingly aglow.
But the spark that once made her heart race had long since vanished.
At this moment, as Abigail stared at Anthony, she realized he wasn’t anything extraordinary. Her love for him had painted him in such dazzling hues.
A wave of clarity washed over Abigail, and for the first time, she felt at peace. All those years of affection didn’t seem so hard to let go of anymore.
Anthony caught the unfamiliar calm in her eyes. A quiet detachment that told him no matter what he said, he wouldn’t stir her emotions anymore. A flicker of panic crept into his chest, but he refused to acknowledge it.
Instead, he reached for his lighter, ready to light another cigarette.
Abigail didn’t even try to argue with him this time. She simply
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left him with a soft, almost distant remark. “You should smoke less. It’s bad for you.” Then, she turned on her heel, ready to walk away.
For reasons Anthony couldn’t explain, the unease in his chest. surged again. It felt like everything was teetering on the edge of slipping out of his grasp.
Anthony dropped the lighter, spat out the cigarette, and lunged forward. Grabbing Abigail’s arm, he yanked her back forcefully.
Thrown off balance, Abigail stumbled and fell against his chest.
Not far away, Felix had watched the scene through the rearview mirror. When he saw Anthony’s sudden movement, he jumped out of the car without hesitation.
But upon seeing Anthony merely holding Abigail, with no signs of violence, and noticing that Abigail wasn’t resisting, Felix hesitated. He stopped, gritting his teeth as he leaned against the
car.
Anthony noticed Felix’s reaction. The indescribable panic in his heart peaked in that instant.
“I admit I made mistakes in the past. I took things for granted,” Anthony said, his voice tinged with desperation. “But you should at least give me a chance to change. Deciding on your own to give up on me, on our marriage, it’s just not fair.”
In the past, every time they argued, if Anthony had said something like this, Abigail would have believed him without
Chapter 76 Finally Broken Free
hesitation. She would’ve thrown herself back into the relationship, pouring her heart into it all over again.
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But now, it was too late. Abigail understood Anthony too well. He wouldn’t change.
The only reason Anthony was here, saying these words and doing these things, wasn’t because he loved her deeply. It was because the bird that he had kept in a gilded cage had finally broken free, spreading its wings to embrace a wider sky.
Anthony had always believed this bird belonged to him and couldn’t survive without him. And now, that unshakable belief had been shattered. His sense of security had crumbled.
It wasn’t love driving his unease, panic, or frustration. It was the bitter realization that what he thought he owned could slip
away.
Abigail didn’t struggle against his grip. Instead, she gently patted his back like one might comfort a distressed child. “Anthony, we had our moments. Some of them were real, and that’s enough. From now on, we can both move toward better lives. I wish you and Michelle happiness. As for Marcus… finding a mother he loves would be best for him.”
The more Abigail spoke, the tighter Anthony’s grip became. By the time she finished, his hold was so firm that it was starting to leave her breathless.
Abigail remained silent. After a long pause, Anthony finally loosened his grip. She took a step back, creating a deliberate
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distance between them. “Goodbye, Anthony.” Then, she turned and walked away without hesitation.
Whether it was his pride or his stubbornness holding him back, Anthony couldn’t bring himself to say the words to stop her.
He simply stood there, watching as her figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared altogether.
For the first time, Anthony realized that Abigail wasn’t coming back this time. It struck him that her calm demeanor today was far more unsettling than the screaming matches and tense confrontations they’d had in the past..
Abigail walked up to Felix, who was worried. “Let’s go,” she said softly.
Seeing that Abigail was composed, Felix breathed a sigh of relief. They got into the car together and drove to the underground parking lot.
Anthony stayed rooted to the spot, watching as the woman he had always taken for granted drove away in another man’s car. A storm of emotions churned within him.
Anthony clenched his fist and swung it hard against the nearby streetlamp. The streetlamp stood unscathed, but his hand was left battered, blood dripping onto the ground.
Anthony had no idea how long he stood before he finally stumbled back to the villa.
Inside, the house was cloaked in darkness, and for the first time,
Chapter 76 Finally Broken Free
the silence felt unbearable.
Then he remembered that no matter how late he came home, Abigail had always left a light on for him.
The memory, once trivial, now pierced him like a knife.
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A wave of panic welled up, threatening to swallow him whole.
Unsteady, Anthony staggered to the liquor cabinet, grabbing at bottle of wine. He twisted off the cap and downed it in one go.
But it wasn’t enough. Anthony grabbed another and another until the room spun around him. A searing pain stabbed at his stomach, sharp and relentless, as the alcohol coursed through his system.
Anthony tried to stand up from the chair, but his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the cold floor. The pain in his stomach grew sharper, and sweat rolled down his forehead.
Curled up in agony, Anthony couldn’t tell whether the wetness on his face was from sweat or tears, as they silently streamed down from the corners of his eyes.
Meanwhile, Abigail and Felix returned upstairs. To her surprise, Felix said nothing and went straight to his room.
Abigail thought his door closing seemed louder than usual. But the fog of alcohol dulled her curiosity, and she quickly showered
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before sinking into her bed, letting sleep take over.
As for the others, they weren’t ready to end the night just yet after Abigail and Felix left.
So, at Amy’s suggestion, the remaining four decided to camp out and watch the sunrise together.
Gavin and Sunny, both carefree heirs with no job worries, were happy to indulge. Amy, being her own boss, had a flexible schedule. And Justin, fortunately, had swapped shifts and didn’t have work the next day. So, they reached a unanimous agreement.
Using the remaining embers, they roasted more food and chatted until the early morning hours. Exhaustion eventually caught up with them, and they gathered around the table, their energy now mellowed.
Gavin leaned back in his chair, nibbling on a skewer with one leg crossed over the other. He teased, “I think Felix’s lifelong bachelor status might end.”
Sunny immediately caught on, her grin matching Gavin’s.
Amy perked up. Though the alcohol had made her eyes glassy, Gavin’s comment made her snap them wide open. She exclaimed, “What? Felix? Finally?”
Gavin wagged his finger dramatically. “Not exactly.”
Amy’s interest only deepened. “What do you mean by that? Stop
Chapter 76 Finally Broken Free being cryptic and spill it already!”
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Gavin chuckled, savoring the moment as he took another sip of his drink. He asked, “Do you remember why Felix came to this city for college?”
